Cell and Developmental Biology Commons^™

Multifunctional And Adaptive: Tracking How Fibroblasts Respond To Tissue Injury And Facilitate Tissue Remodeling, Joey R. Tavarez

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Fibrosis is characterized by an accumulation of proteins in the extracellular matrix (ECM) that results in altered tissue architecture and reduced organ function. In the salivary glands, fibrosis leads to loss of saliva, dysbiosis of the oral microbiome, an increase in oral infections, difficulty in digestion of food and an overall reduction in the quality of life. Understanding the progression of fibrosis and how it affects human health is a crucial step for designing effective therapeutics. Understanding fibroblast function is integral to advancing the field due to the many roles they play in maintaining the ECM. To perform preliminary analysis, …

Fluorescent Protein Imaging Approaches Uncover Dynamic Subcellular Distribution Of Core Clock Proteins In Neurospora Crassa, Ziyan Wang

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Circadian clocks are endogenous self-sustained timekeeping systems that allow organisms to anticipate and adapt to daily environmental cycles. Found in diverse forms of life, these molecular clocks regulate the expression of ~ 40% of the genome in animals, fungi, and plants. In animals and fungi, circadian oscillators are built on transcription-translation feedback loops (TTFLs), in which positive regulators drive the expression of negative regulators which, once synthesized and imported into the nucleus, inhibit their own activators. This precisely regulated negative feedback incorporates multiple steps of delays that are essential for generating ~24-hour rhythms. Through these mechanisms, circadian clocks temporally coordinate …

Ex Vivo Sensitivity Assays With Molecular Validation To Guide Preclinical Drug Selection For Schwann Cell Tumors, Ethan W. Hass

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Schwann cells are the glial cell of the peripheral nervous system. They are dependent on receptor tyrosine kinase-mediated RAS signaling, cell matrix adhesion, and cell-cell contact to proliferate during nerve development and repair. These pathways become deregulated with loss of function of the merlin tumor suppressor encoded by NF2, leading to benign tumors called schwannomas. Patients with NF2-related schwannomatosis (NF2-SWN) develop bilateral vestibular schwannomas that cause hearing loss, tinnitus, and death from brainstem compression if untreated. Severe NF2-SWN causes multiple spinal and peripheral schwannomas and neuropathic pain. Schwannomas require careful monitoring, trial and error use of repurposed anti-cancer …

Investigating The Anti-Apoptotic Properties Of The N-Terminus Of The Chlamydia Trachomatis Effector Tarp, Kasey S. Jordan

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

As the most prevalent bacterial STI in the United States and leading cause of infection-related blindness worldwide, the obligate intracellular bacteria, Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), poses a significant threat to public health. As an obligate intracellular bacteria, invasion of the host cell is a crucial step in Chlamydia’s developmental cycle. To drive invasion, Ct injects prepackaged effectors into the host cell using a T3SS. An early Chlamydial effector, translocated actin recruiting phosphoprotein, or Tarp, interacts with host cell actin to promote invasion, mediated via Tarp’s C-terminal region. Although the function of Tarp’s C-terminus is well defined, the Tarp’s N-terminus …

Serum Protein Signatures For Breast Cancer Detection In Treatment-Naïve African American Women Using Integrated Proteomics And Pattern Analysis, Padma Tadi Uppala, Elmer Rivera, Hyun J. Kwon, Sharon S. Lum

Faculty Publications

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in African American (AA) women. In this study we evaluated the serum proteomic profile of AA women with breast cancer using an integrated proteomic framework with multivariate pattern analysis. Using 2D-DIGE, thousands of serum protein spots were detected across 33 gels; 46 spots met criteria for presence, statistical significance, and differential expression. Proteins from the spots were identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF and matched in curated databases, highlighting serum biomarkers including ceruloplasmin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, complement component C3 and C6, alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-1B-glycoprotein, alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein and haptoglobin-related protein. LC-MS/MS analysis revealed 163 differentiating peptides after imputing and …

Exploring The Application Of Wastewater Monitoring To Determine The Prevalence And Diversity Of Influenza On The Campus Of West Virginia University, Lakyn Renee Sanders

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Influenza viruses (IV) affect populations globally, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that IV are responsible for an estimated 3-5 million infections and 290,000 – 650,000 deaths annually^1–3. More specifically, the 2019-2020 IV season is associated with an estimated 38 million illnesses and 22,000 deaths in the United States alone⁴. IV are rapidly spread between individuals through direct contact with infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, or aerosolized virus particles². Traditional IV infection monitoring relies on clinical screening of patients presenting influenza-like symptoms, commonly through the use of multi-target panel tests such as the BioFire …

Gcn5l1-Mediated Lysine Acetylation Regulates Mitochondrial Dysfunction In The Aged Heart, Jackson Edmond Stewart

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

For over a century, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been and remains the leading cause of death globally. CVD risk and severity increase significantly with advanced age, and mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of aging. Furthermore, mitochondrial health is crucial for cardiac function, as one-third of total cardiomyocyte volume is occupied by mitochondria in order to meet the high energy demand of contractile and relaxational function. It is thus crucial that we understand the pathological mechanisms driving mitochondrial dysfunction in aging and how this contributes to age-associated cardiovascular disease. The current manuscript aims to fill this knowledge gap …

Design, Syntheses And Biological Applications Of Fluorescent Probes For Nad(P)H, Hsa And Cellular Microenvironment Sensing, Adenike M. Olowolagba

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Fluorescent probes have emerged as powerful tools for investigating complex biological processes due to their high sensitivity, selectivity, and capability for real-time, non-invasive imaging. In particular, the detection of key biomolecules such as NAD(P)H, viscosity-related parameters, human serum albumin (HSA), and pH is essential for understanding cellular metabolism, redox homeostasis, and disease progression. In Chapter 2, three coumarin-based fluorescent probes (A–C) were designed, synthesized, and characterized for monitoring NAD(P)H levels in living cells. Probes A and B feature coumarin–cyanine hybrid structures linked via vinyl and thiophene bridges to 3-quinolinium acceptors, respectively, while probe C incorporates a dicyano moiety to replace …

Targeted And Screening Based Approaches To Analyze Drm Transcriptional Repressor Complex Activity In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Emily Washeleski

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The molecular machinery that control the eukaryotic cell cycle, specifically the processes that mediate the switch between cellular division or quiescence, are essential for cellular and organismal viability. However, how the same machinery integrates with developmental or differentiation programs is less well understood. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the 8-subunit DRM complex (for Dp, Rb and MuvB), whose subunits belong to the Synthetic Mulitivulva (SynMuv) B class genes, is a central regulator of the cell cycle but also prevents inappropriate cell fate specification. The conserved mammalian DREAM complex (for Dp, Rb, E2F, And MuvB) is best known as a transcriptional repressor …

Antiestrogens As Bone Protective Therapeutics For Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer In The Presence Of Osteoporosis, Faith E. Parker, Emily K. Zboril, David C. Boyd, Rachel Myrick, J. Chuck Harrell

Undergraduate Research Posters

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most significant causes of mortality among women and the second leading cause of cancer death in women. The estrogen receptor (ER) is a key oncogenic driver in the majority of breast cancer. ER+ BC is the most common molecular subtype of BC. Management of ER+ breast cancer varies depending on menopausal status. For premenopausal women, the goal is to suppress estradiol production from the ovaries with surgical oophorectomy and/or aromatase inhibitors. In postmenopausal women, endocrine therapy (ET) serves to suppress estradiol production from sources other than the ovaries. During the menopausal transition, estradiol …

Patterns Of Ovarian And Gonadotropin Hormones In Emerging Adult Oral Contraceptive Users, Summer Mcormond

Undergraduate Research Posters

Oral contraceptives (OCs) are often initiated during adolescence and emerging adulthood, a period of continued maturation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis. Because hormonal exposure during this window may shape emotional, biological, and reproductive outcomes, it is important to understand the specific formulations young women take and the hormonal profiles these formulations produce. This study characterizes OC formulation features and measured hormone levels in young adult OC users (n = 30).

Ethinyl estradiol (EE) doses ranged from 0.01–0.035 mg (mean = 0.022 mg), with 70% using ≤0.02 mg. Pill regimens included 21/7 packs (83%), 24/4 packs (10%), and 84/7 regimens (3%). …

Determining Genes Involved In Recovery From Chemotherapy In 4t1, Emt6, And Eo771 Breast Cancer Cells, Akash Jagdeesh, Joseph Landry Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Posters

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, and often has poor prognosis. Traditional treatments for breast cancer include chemotherapy, which involves a chemical attack on all growing cells within the body. However, these treatments are not 100% effective, and patients might experience recurrence in their cancer months or years after achieving remission. Cancer cells can evade chemotherapy through five mechanisms: senescence, quiescence, cytoprotective autophagy, and apoptosis/necroptosis suppression. Prior studies have conducted CRISPR screens and experiments involving inhibition of epigenetic regulators, to alter the regulation of genes that can contribute to breast cancer chemotherapy resistance. This study …

The Myopia Epidemic: Integrating Genetic, Environmental, And Epigenetic Pathways To Define A Critical Window For Intervention, Pranavika Balaji

Undergraduate Research Posters

Myopia, or nearsightedness, has increased rapidly worldwide and is now a major public health concern caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Current understanding shows that too much near work, limited time spent outdoors, and prolonged screen use contribute to abnormal eye growth in individuals who may already have a genetic predisposition. At the molecular level, epigenetic changes and shifts in DNA activity, often influenced by environmental conditions, affect the signaling pathways that regulate eye development and may help explain why myopia is increasingly common among children. This paper synthesizes recent environmental, genetic, and epigenetic research to explain how these …

Developing A Tool To Measure Resistance To Sustainable Food Choices: A Pilot Study In Ireland And The Netherlands, Kate Flanagan, Bart Sinteur, Patricia J. Bulsing, John M. Kearney

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Consumer uptake of a sustainable diet is critical for addressing environmental challenges and promoting public health. Understanding why consumers resist adopting sustainable eating habits can inform targeted interventions and policies. This pilot study examines whether a newly developed scale can effectively detect consumer resistance to a sustainable diet. Currently, there is a lack of research on a tool to measure consumer resistance to a sustainable diet, highlighting the need for a reliable instrument.

The aim of this study is to develop a scale, based on existing literature, to measure consumer resistance to a sustainable diet. Additionally, the study aims to …

Editorial-Sure Journal Volume 7, Issue 2, Geraldine M. Dowling, Eva Campion, Sinead Loughran, Ariane Perez-Gavilan, Josephine Treacy

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Immunohistochemical Analysis Of The Effects Of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes On Mouse Testis, Rory E. Field, Brianna R. Demaio, Hannah R. Fioramonti, Makenna M. Landis, Jing Xu

Montview Journal of Research & Scholarship

Because diabetes mellitus (DM) poses harm to the reproductive systems of humans and mice on both the cellular and histological levels, we sought to understand the effects of streptozotocin-induced (STZ) diabetes mellitus on the spermatogenesis and Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) production of mice. The structural integrity of the testes is disrupted due to the high levels of oxidative stress caused by DM, which also hinders spermatogenesis. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been found to induce autophagy in Sertoli cells, and the Sertoli cells of diabetic models have fewer tight junctions between them. This disorganization and decreased integrity of the seminiferous …

Mechanistic Insight Of Neuropilin-2 Expression During The Progression Of Prostate Cancer, Sanika Bodas

Theses & Dissertations

Advanced prostate cancer represents a particularly aggressive and challenging form of prostate cancer (PCa) that shows resistance to both traditional therapies, such as androgen deprivation therapy, and newer treatment modalities like hormone therapies and immunotherapies. For patients diagnosed with advanced stages of PCa, treatment options are limited, and chemotherapy is often the last line of defense. Unfortunately, chemotherapy can severely diminish the quality of life, particularly in older patients, due to its harsh side effects, including fatigue, immune suppression, and overall physical decline. Despite these challenges, researchers and clinicians remain focused on developing more effective and targeted treatments for patients …

Development Of Self-Assembled Polymeric Polyplexes For Microrna Delivery: Toward Treatment Of Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease, Marjina Akter Kalpana

Theses & Dissertations

Self-assembled polymeric polyplexes have the potential to serve as an RNA interference (RNAi) delivery platform for the combined inhibition of CXCR4 and miR-155 in the treatment of alcohol-associated liver disease (AALD). A central challenge in RNA delivery is balancing the extracellular stability of polyplexes, cellular uptake, and intracellular release of RNA cargo. We developed polymeric polyplexes using the CXCR4-antagonist polymer PAMD, designed to target CXCR4 on activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and deliver therapeutic miRNA to activated Kupffer cells (KCs) in fibrotic liver. We improved the polyplexes by cholesterol modification of PAMD and by PEGylation of PAMD-Ch. The cholesterol modification …

Investigating The Potential Ability Of The Tlr4-Nf-Κb Axis To Reduce Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Expression In Intestinal Epithelial Cells, Gabriella Longoria

Student Scholar Symposium

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) primarily affects premature infants and is characterized by intestinal necrosis, inflammation, and high mortality. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-induced apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells is thought to drive NEC development. Upon binding bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), TLR4 signaling activates NF-κB, leading to inflammatory gene expression. Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a pro-ligand of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), prevents NEC in a mouse model by downregulating TLR4, despite reduced AhR expression in NEC-affected intestines. However, the molecular mechanism behind the reduced expression of AhR in NEC is unclear. To model NEC in vitro, we treated IEC-6 enterocytes with LPS, which reduces AhR …

Exploring The Functional Role Of Neprilysin In Pi3k/Akt1 Signaling In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Ariadna Daniela Menjivar

Student Scholar Symposium

Our lab is investigating the protein Neprilysin (NEP) and its role in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). Previous bioinformatics data from Dr. Conway’s research indicated that in TNBC cells high in Neprilysin expression (HCC38), the PI3K pathway was the most active signaling pathway. This information suggests that Neprilysin is positively upregulating the PI3K pathway in this cell line. This is interesting given the fact that in the context of TNBC, Neprilysin has been shown to negatively regulate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. The PI3K/AKT pathway is the most commonly mutated pathway in breast cancer. AKT is the central mediator protein in this …